Devil Dogs Take Aim

Marines receive a convoy brief before traveling to the firing range at the Arizona Army National Guard’s Florence Military Reservation. The convoy brief is for maintaining safety and communication during travel to Florence and covers contingencies in the event of an emergency. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class James Hensley)

Devil Dogs Take Aim: Engineers deliver rounds downrange

Published May 17, 2013
By Airman 1st Class James Hensley
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- Marines from the Bulk Fuel Company C, 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, a reserve unit stationed at Luke Air Force Base, conducted weapons training May 4 at the Arizona Army National Guard's Florence Military Reservation to refresh on three crew-served weapon systems: the M2 50-caliber machine gun, MK-19 automatic grenade launcher and the M240B machine gun.

"We try to go out to Florence a couple of times a year," said Sgt. Daniel Gonzalez, 6th ESB engineer equipment operator.

Battalion members conduct periodic weapons training for those new to the unit and to prepare for future deployments.

"The purpose is to get a refresher for those of us who have not fired the weapons in some time and to give training to the ones who have never fired them before," said Master Sgt. Terry Kirkham, 6th ESB operations chief. "It's like any other training, but particularly useful to those most likely to deploy to a combat zone."

Safety is priority for Marines whenever they conducted training. Paint rounds were used with the MK-19, and a (range spotter) watched over the shooters and range. However, every Marine is in charge of range safety and they constantly look for potential hazards to include animals on the range, overheated weapons or weapons' safety violations.

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